Alignment device for aligning transmitter and receiver of wireless power transfer system, and method therefor

Abstract

An alignment device comprises a coil configured to generate an induced voltage from a magnetic field, or an electrode configured to generate an induced voltage from an electric field. The alignment device further comprises a comparator configured to compare the induced voltage to a threshold voltage and activate an indicator based on the comparison.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. An alignment device comprising:
 a coil configured to generate an induced voltage from a magnetic field, or an electrode configured to generate an induced voltage from an electric field, the coil or electrode forming part of a field detection unit (FDU); and 
 a comparator configured to compare the induced voltage to a threshold voltage and activate an indicator based on the comparison, 
 wherein the alignment device comprises a plurality of FDUs, each FDU comprising an individual coil configured to generate an induced voltage from a magnetic field, or an individual electrode configured to generate an induced voltage from an electric field, and 
 wherein each FDU is identical. 
 
     
     
       2. The alignment device of  claim 1 , wherein the induced voltage is proportional to the strength of the magnetic field intersecting the coil, or to the electric field intersecting the electrode. 
     
     
       3. The alignment device of  claim 1 , wherein the alignment device is configured to align a transmitter and a receiver for optimal power transfer efficiency. 
     
     
       4. The alignment device of  claim 1 , wherein the alignment device is configured to align a transmitter coil and a receiver coil for optimal power transfer efficiency. 
     
     
       5. The alignment device of  claim 1 , wherein the alignment device is configured for use with a high frequency wireless power transfer system. 
     
     
       6. The alignment device of  claim 1 , wherein the FDU comprises at least one tuning capacitor configured to tune the coil. 
     
     
       7. The alignment device of  claim 1 , wherein the FDU comprises a rectifier configured to rectify the induced voltage from alternating current (AC) to direct current (DC). 
     
     
       8. The alignment device of  claim 1 , wherein the FDU comprises at least one diode configured to add capacitors to the coil to decrease a resonant frequency of the coil. 
     
     
       9. The alignment device of  claim 1 , wherein the alignment device comprises four FDUs orthogonally positioned with respect to each other in a plane. 
     
     
       10. The alignment device of  claim 1 , wherein the FDUs are positioned equidistant to each other in the plane. 
     
     
       11. The alignment device of  claim 1 , wherein the alignment device comprises five FDUs orthogonally positioned with respect to each other in a plane. 
     
     
       12. The alignment device of  claim 11 , wherein four FDUs are positioned equidistant to a central FDU in the plane. 
     
     
       13. The alignment device of  claim 1 , wherein each FDU is associated with an individual indicator. 
     
     
       14. The alignment device of  claim 1 , wherein the comparator forms part of a main board. 
     
     
       15. The alignment device of  claim 14 , wherein the main board further comprises at least one of the indicator, a voltage divider configured to scale down voltage, and a sensitivity control configured to control the threshold voltage. 
     
     
       16. The alignment device of  claim 1 , further comprises a spirit level. 
     
     
       17. A receiver comprising:
 one or more coils for extracting power from a magnetic field, or one or more capacitive electrodes for extracting power for extracting power from an electric field; and 
 an alignment device for aligning the receiver with a transmitter of a wireless power transfer system, the alignment device comprising: 
 a coil configured to generate an induced voltage from the magnetic field, or an electrode configured to generate an induced voltage from the electric field, the coil or electrode forming part of a field detection unit (FDU); and 
 a comparator configured to compare the induced voltage to a threshold voltage and activate an indicator based on the comparison, 
 wherein the alignment device comprises a plurality of FDUs, each FDU comprising an individual coil configured to generate an induced voltage from a magnetic field, or an individual electrode configured to generate an induced voltage from an electric field, and 
 wherein each FDU is identical.